ABOARD AIR FORCE TWO: The war in Afghanistan may be entering its 17th year, but screams of military jet engines in the twinkling skies above Bagram Airfield show no sign of quieting. During that soul searching, the White House came to believe that the Obama administration underutilized America’s total aerial superiority. That was up 50 percent from August and the highest since October 2010, according to US Air Force data. US Air Force personnel on the ground in Afghanistan report a significant shift in how airpower is being used. But the White House hopes overwhelming force will exacerbate divisions in the Taliban ranks and help lure more members to the negotiating table, where America’s diplomats will be waiting.

Source: Manila Times December 23, 2017 15:00 UTC